Youmin Hwang wins first LPGA title at LOTTE Championship

Youmin Hwang rallied with a closing birdie run to win the LOTTE Championship on Saturday at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, capturing her first LPGA Tour title. The 22 year old South Korean finished at 17 under 271 after a final round 5 under 67 that included birdies on five of her last six holes, edging Hyo Joo Kim by one stroke.

Hwang opened the week with a careerbest 10 under 62 in round two, the lowest round at Hoakalei since the event moved there four years ago, and carried a three stroke lead into the weekend. She stumbled with a 75 on Friday and entered the final round one stroke back, but surged Sunday with the backnine charge that clinched the victory. On the par five 18th, she hit her second shot through the green into the rough and chipped to a foot before tapping in for birdie.

Playing on a sponsor invitation as a member of the Korean LPGA Tour, Hwang has two domestic victories. By winning as a nonmember, she has the option to accept LPGA membership immediately or defer entry to the start of the 2026 season. Hwang said of her record round earlier in the week, "First of all, I broke my lifebest score. So at the same time I broke the course record, so I...